The revenge flick scored $34 million last weekend from 42 territories, pushing its global total to $216.8 million. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as a woman who is drugged and subsequently turned into a killing machine able to access 100 percent of her brain.

“Lucy” opened in first place in a number of major territories in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, including Israel, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

This weekend’s domestic box office king, “The Guardians of the Galaxy,” had to settle for runner-up status abroad with $20.7 million from 66 territories. The Marvel film has racked up $489.5 million worldwide, and still has yet to open in Japan and China. It’s not doing “Avengers”-style numbers, but it is outpacing other key franchises in the studio’s stable, proving the viability of the characters both domestically and with foreign audiences. It has already bested the totals of “Thor” ($449 million) and “Captain America: The First Avenger” ($371 million), and will likely pass $500 million next week.

Last week’s overseas victor slid into the third spot this cycle. DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2″ was initially dismissed as a disappointment by analysts when its domestic opening was softer than expected, but it’s a big world out there and foreign audiences have lifted the picture past its predecessor’s $494.9 million total.

Thanks partly to a strong reception in China, “How to Train Your Dragon 2″ earned $18.2 million from 27 markets last weekend, with $11 million of that coming from the People’s Republic. Its global total stands at $574.5 million.

Audiences in the U.S. are giving “The Expendables 3″ the cold shoulder, but the mercenaries on a mission sequel is being treated more warmly overseas where Sylvester Stallone has a more ardent fan base. The picture earned $16.5 million overseas from 30 territories — good enough for fourth place.

Coming in at number five, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” picked up $15.5 million from 35 territories, sending its global haul to $238.8 million.

…and here again goes to show a U.S. opening does not determine if a film’s box office is woeful (though “LUCY” opened extremely well in the North American markets). Luc Besson’s remain a global cinematic force.